Print server, method, and system capable of handling different kinds of data

ABSTRACT

In case of forming images by distributing image data mixedly including plural different kinds of data to plural image formation apparatuses, the data is distributed in consideration of a state of the image formation apparatus and data desired by a user is quickly output. In order to operate a system smoothly, an image formation system, which has an information processing apparatus capable of selectively transmitting a series of image data composed of plural pages containing first-kind image data and second-kind image data different from the first-kind image data to a first image formation apparatus and a second image formation apparatus in the page unit, controls to transmit the first-kind image data to the first image formation apparatus and transmit the second-kind image data to the second image formation apparatus from the series of image data. Further, transmission timing of the first-kind image data to the first image formation apparatus is made differ from transmission timing of the second-kind image data to the second image formation apparatus in accordance with a function of the first image formation apparatus or a function of the second image formation apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a print server, an image formationsystem, a control method thereof, and a storage medium, and moreparticularly to a print server capable of handling image data mixedlyincluding plural different kinds of data, an image formation systemcontaining this print server, a control method thereof, and a storagemedium.

2. Related Background Art

In general, an image formation system which sends PDL (page descriptionlanguage) data, image data and the like generated by a host computer toan image formation apparatus connected to a print server through anetwork, expands the sent data into bit map, and outputs the bitmappeddata is known. In the image formation apparatus of this image formationsystem, a printer and a BW (black-and-white) digital copying machinewhich have a function to perform high-speed print, a color printer and acolor copying machine which perform color print, and the like are used.Further, in the image formation apparatus, a finisher which staples andpunches output recording sheets and performs bookbinding processing tothese sheets, a manual sheet feeder which feeds OHP (overhead projector)sheet and special sheets, and the like can be installed, whereby it ispossible to easily perform bookbinding or the like of the recordingsheets.

However, in recent years, image data which is generated by mixing BWdata with color data is on the increase. Thus, in the current imageformation system, even when a BW image output apparatus and a colorimage output apparatus are connected to the print server, the datamixedly including plural different kinds of data (e.g., BW data andcolor data) can be output by either one of the BW image output apparatusand the color image output apparatus. For this reason, there is aproblem that, when the data is output by the BW image output apparatus,a color page is involuntarily reproduced as a BW page. Further, there isa problem that, when the data is output by the color image outputapparatus, the data output takes much time because ordinary colorprocessing is slow. Further, there is a problem that, since a BW imageis handled as a color image, it costs to perform the image output.

Further, for example, when the image data mixedly including color and BWdata is sent to the image formation apparatus, it is possible todistribute the BW data to the BW image formation apparatus and the colordata to the color image formation apparatus so as to cause the BW imageformation apparatus to print the BW data and the color image formationapparatus to print the color data. However, when the image data is sentto the image formation apparatus without considering a state of theimage formation apparatus side, for example, there is some fear that theprocessing of the BW and/or color image formation apparatuses ismonopolized until such the entire print ends and thus other users cannot inconveniently use the BW and/or color image formation apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a print server capableof solving the above problems, an image formation system containing thisprint server, a control method thereof, and a storage medium.

Another object of the present invention is to provide, in a case where aseries of image data composed of plural pages is distributed to pluralimage formation apparatuses for each page and then image formation isperformed by each image formation apparatus, a print server which candistribute the data in consideration of a state of the image formationapparatus side, quickly output the data desired by a user, and smoothlyoperate an entire system, an image formation system which contains thisprint server, a control method thereof, and a storage medium.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description and the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire structure of an image formationsystem (or an image print system) according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram showing a BW (black-and-white)digital copying machine 106 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an appearance diagram showing key arrangement of an operationpanel of a color copying machine 105 or the BW digital copying machine106 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an output procedure based on the BW digitalcopying machine 106 in the image print system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an output procedure based on the colorcopying machine 105 in the image print system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing output processing in the image printsystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing base determination processing in a stepS601 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing color page output processing in a stepS603 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing BW page output processing in a step S607of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing message display processing in a stepS604 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing message display processing in a stepS608 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing insert output processing in steps S605and S609 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a base screen of a mailbox screen in thecolor copying machine 105, the BW digital copying machine 106 and a hostcomputer 101 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a temporary box screen of the mailboxscreen of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a print trigger screen of FIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an operation indication message screen onthe host computer 101 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be explainedin detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram showing an image formation system (or animage print system) according to the embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 1, host computers (external apparatuses) 101, 102 and103 are information processing apparatuses which act as, e.g., imagegeneration sources and are connected to a print server 104 through anetwork 107 such as an Ethernet or the like. The print server 104 isconnected to image formation apparatuses, i.e., a color copying machine105 and a BW (black-and-white) digital copying machine 106, through aparallel cable 108. The print server 104 which acts as the informationprocessing apparatus to unitarily control the image formation system asa whole first receives image data transmitted from the host computers101, 102 and 103. Then the print server 104 instructs the color copyingmachine 105 and the BW digital copying machine 106 to distribute theimage data for each page and output the distributed image data.

The print server 104 can acquire information (including later-describedvarious information) from the side of the image formation apparatusconnected through a communication path such as the network 107, theparallel cable 108 or the like, from each image formation apparatusthrough the communication path. When the print server 104 acquires suchthe information, for example, it is possible to cause each imageformation apparatus to output such the information in response to arequest from the print server 104 side. Further, it is possible to causethe image formation apparatus to automatically notify the print server104 of such the information in accordance with a state change of theimage formation apparatus. Further, the print server 104 can not acquiresuch the information from the image formation device side. Namely, it ispossible to previously register such the information in a memory of theprint server 104.

In FIG. 1, one color copying machine 105 and one BW digital copyingmachine 106 are connected to the print server 104. However, plural othercopying machines or plural printers can be connected to the print server104. It should be noted that the host computers 101 to 103 have theidentical structure. Therefore, the structure of only the host computer101 will be explained, and thus explanation for the structure of thehost computers 102 and 103 will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram showing the BW digital copyingmachine 106 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, an original feeder 201 feeds originalsto be copied, sequentially one by one from the head onto a platen glass202. After an original reading operation ends, the original isdischarged from the platen glass 202. When the original is on the platenglass 202, a lamp 203 is turned on, and movement of a scanner unit 204is started, whereby the original is exposed and scanned. An image of thescanned original is read by a CCD image sensor 209 through mirrors 205,206 and 207 and a lens 208.

A laser driver 221 drives a laser beam generation unit 210 to generate alaser beam according to output image data. The laser beam generated fromthe laser beam generation unit 210 is irradiated to a photosensitivedrum 211, whereby a latent image corresponding to the laser beam isformed on the photosensitive drum 211. Developer is then adhered to thelatent image portion by a development unit 212. It should be noted that,in the color copying machine 105, the development unit corresponding tofour colors (yellow, magenta, cyan and black) is installed.

Next, a recording sheet is fed from any of cassettes 213 and 214 and amanual sheet feeder 227 at timing synchronous with a start of the laserbeam irradiation, the fed recording sheet is carried to a transfer unit215, and the developer adhered to the photosensitive drum 211 istransferred to the recording sheet. The recording sheet on which thedeveloper was transferred is carried to a pair of fixing units (simplyreferred as a fixing unit hereinafter) 216, and the developer is fixedto the recording sheet by heat and pressure in the fixing unit 216.Ordinarily, the recording sheet which passed the fixing unit 216 isdischarged outward by a pair of discharge rollers (simply referred as adischarge roller hereinafter) 217. However, when two-face recording isbeing set, the recording sheet is once carried up to the dischargeroller 217, and a rotational direction of the discharge roller 217 isreversed, whereby the recording sheet is guided to a sheet refeed path219 by a flapper 218. The recording sheet in the sheet refeed path 219is again fed to the transfer unit 215, whereby the two-face recording isperformed.

When a Z-folding unit 226 is being installed, the recording sheet iscarried to the Z-folding unit 226, whereby the recording sheet can befolded into Z shape in response to an instruction from an operationunit. Further, when a finisher 220 is being installed, a recording sheetpreviously subjected to print is fed, the discharged recording sheetsare stapled, and the discharged recording sheets are subjected to bookbinding. The finisher 220 is composed of an inserter 222, a puncher 223,a stapler 224, a saddle stitcher 225 and the like. Like the manual sheetfeeder 227, the inserter 222 feeds the recording sheet previouslysubjected to the print, as a cover or an insert (a slipsheet). Thus,since it is possible to feed the recording sheet without passing feedpaths such as the fixing unit 216 and the like, resultingly it ispossible to feed the recording sheet without any damage. The puncher 223punches holes in the recording sheets according to user's setting, andthe stapler 224 staples the recording sheets. The saddle stitcher 225stitches up the central portion of the recording sheet, whereby it ispossible to easily perform bookbinding of the recording sheets.

Like the image formation apparatus according to the present embodiment,when various optional units such as the inserter 222, a later-describedstorage device and the like are being connected (or installed), theimage formation apparatus notifies the print server 104 of informationconcerning these optional units through the communication paths such asthe parallel cable 108 and the like, automatically or according to arequest from the print server 104. (Another image formation apparatussimilarly notifies the print server 104 of such information.) The printserver 104 classifies the notified various information for each imageformation apparatus and then stores and manages the classifiedinformation. Thus, the print server 104 can confirm what function, unitand the like each image formation apparatus has. In addition to theabove structure that the information concerning the optional units isacquired from the image formation apparatus side, it is possible to havea structure that such the information is previously stored as managementinformation in a memory of the print server 104 and then the managementinformation (including function information, optional unit informationand the like of the image formation apparatus) is appropriately readfrom the memory to confirm a state of the image formation apparatusside.

FIG. 3 is an appearance diagram showing key arrangement of an operationpanel of the color copying machine 105 or the BW digital copying machine106 shown in FIG. 1. A power supply switch 301 is used to control powersupply to the body of the image formation apparatus. A preheating key302 is used to set and release a preheating mode. A copy A mode key 303and a copy B mode key 304 are used to select copy modes from amongplural functions of the image output apparatuses. It should be notedthat both a copy A mode and a copy B mode have the same copyingfunction. Incidentally, the reason why such two kinds of copy mode keysare provided is that, when scanner reading in one copy mode has ended, auser can easily recognize to be able to perform data inputting in theother copy mode.

A mail box key 305 is used to select a mail box mode from among theplural functions. In the mail box mode, each user (individual or group)sets a storage area in the storage device such as the memory, a harddisk or the like of the image output apparatus, image data transmittedfrom the print server 104 or read by the scanner is thus stored in thisstorage area, and the stored image data is output according to arequest. An expansion key 306 is used to, e.g., change the image data.Further, these keys 303 to 306 are used to call later-describedrespective function screens on an LCD (liquid crystal display) touchpanel 316.

A copy start key 307 is used to instruct a start of copying, a stop key308 is used to interrupt or stop the copying, a reset key 309 is used torestore an operation mode to a standard mode while the copying machineis on standby, a guide key 310 is used to confirm a function allocatedto a key, and a user mode key 311 is used when the user changesfundamental setting of the system. An interruption key 312 is used toperform interruption copying, and a set of numeric keys 313 is used toinput numerals.

A clear key 314 is used to clear the input numerals. In case of settinguser limitation by ID (identification) input during use of the copyingmachine, an ID key 315 is used to change an input mode to an ID inputmode. The LCD touch panel 316 which is composed of an LCD screen and atouch sensor displays a setting screen for each copy mode. Thus, bytouching the displayed touch key, the user can performs various detailedsetting. Also, the LCD touch panel 316 displays an image data processingstate transmitted from the print server 104. A lamp 317 indicates acommunication state of the network. Namely, the lamp 317 usually lightsto green, blinks while communicating, and lights to red when a networkerror occurs.

Next, for example, in the image print system according to the presentembodiment, it is assumed that data to instruct execution of a sort modewith three prints (copies) is input from the image generation sourcesuch as the host computer 101, 102, 103 or the like to the print server104 through the communication network such as the network 107 or thelike, together with a series of image data (PDL data) mixedlyrepresenting five-page BW and color images. An output procedure in thiscase will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. It should benoted that, according to the structure of the print server 104, it ispossible to sequentially input three sets of image data each set mixedlyrepresenting the five-page BW and color images.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the output procedure based on the BW digitalcopying machine 106 in the image print system of FIG. 1. In FIG. 4, thethree sets of PDL data each set mixedly representing the five-page BWand color images (simply referred as data in the explanation of FIG. 4)are input to the print server 104 (processing 4 a). Based onpredetermined installation states of the connected color copying machine105 and BW digital copying machine 106, the print server 104 judgeswhich of BW base and color base the input data should depend on whenthis data is output.

When judged that the data should be output dependent on the BW base, thedata representing color pages is first transmitted to the color copyingmachine 105, and the color copying machine 105 outputs the images of thecolor pages (processing 4 b). At this time, when the color copyingmachine 105 is equipped with a storage device and has a data spoolingfunction, the print server 104 only has to perform data transmissiononly once, whereby next processing can be performed without monopolizingthe print server 104. In this case, the print server 104 transmitstogether with the image data the data to the color copying machine 105through the communication path such as the parallel cable 108 or thelike to instruct the color copying machine 105 to sort the three sets ofoutput prints (copies). The color copying machine 105 which receivedthese data performs electronic sort processing to produce plural prints(copies) by using the storage device or the like.

Conversely, when the color copying machine 105 is not equipped with thestorage device and does not have the data spooling function, the printserver 104 performs the data transmission several times (three times inthis case). As above, the print server 104 controls even the number ofdata transmission times according as whether or not the image formationapparatus at a data transmission destination has the storage device (thespooling function).

Next, the user manually sets the color pages output by the color copyingmachine 105 to the inserter 222 or the manual sheet feeder 227 of the BWdigital copying machine 106 as it is (processing 4 d). The image data ofthe BW pages are transmitted to the BW digital copying machine 106through the communication path such as the parallel cable 108 or thelike. At this time, the information concerning the portions to which thecolor pages are to be inserted (page information representing the pageto which the color page is to be inserted) is correlated with the imagedata and transmitted together with such the image data (processing 4 c).

When the BW digital copying machine 106 does not have the data spoolingfunction, the print server 104 generates an output trigger at optimumtiming and transmits the data of the BW pages. For example, in thiscase, according as the user manually sets the output result of the colorpages to the inserter 222 (or the manual sheet feeder 227), a detectionresult of the set sheets is notified to the print server 104. The printserver 104 which received the detection result (or a user's instructioninput from the operation unit of the BW digital copying machine 106, thehost computer 101 or the like) transmits the data of the BW pages to theBW digital copying machine 106. In this case, since the three prints(copies) are output, the print server 104 transmits the data threetimes.

Conversely, when the BW digital copying machine 106 has the dataspooling function, the print server 104 can transmit the data of the BWpages to the BW digital copying machine 106 before the user manuallysets the output result of the color pages to the inserter 222 (or themanual sheet feeder 227) (processing 4 c). Thus, it is possible by thespooling function to continue the processing without interrupting theoutput operation which is being performed by the BW digital copyingmachine 106. In this case, since the three prints (copies) are output,the print server 104 transmits together with the image data the data tothe BW digital copying machine 106 to instruct it to sort the three setsof output prints (copies) (the data transmission is performed onlyonce). The BW digital copying machine 106 which received these dataperforms electronic sort processing to produce plural prints (copies) byusing the storage device or the like.

In the BW digital copying machine 106, the data stored in the storagedevice is output in response to the output trigger generated from theoperation panel. Thus, on the basis of the information which wasreceived from the print server 104 and concerns the pages to which thecolor pages are to be inserted, the BW pages are output as the colorpages set in the inserter 222 or the manual sheet feeder 227 areappropriately inserted, whereby three sets of five-page output resultseach mixedly including the color and BW pages can be obtained(processing 4 e).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an output procedure based on the colorcopying machine 105 in the image print system of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 5, the three sets of PDL data each set mixedly representing thefive-page BW and color images (simply referred as data in theexplanation of FIG. 5) are input to the print server 104 (processing 5a). Based on installation states of the inserters and storage devices ofthe connected color copying machine 105 and BW digital copying machine106, the print server 104 judges which of BW base and color base theinput data should depend on when this data is output.

When judged that the data should be output dependent on the color base,the data representing BW pages is first transmitted to the BW digitalcopying machine 106 (processing 5 b), and the BW digital copying machine106 outputs the images of the BW pages. At this time, when the BWdigital copying machine 106 is equipped with a storage device and has adata spooling function, the print server 104 only has to perform datatransmission only once, whereby next processing can be performed withoutmonopolizing the print server 104. In this case, as previouslydescribed, the print server 104 transmits together with the image datathe data to the BW digital copying machine 106 to instruct it to sortthe three sets of output prints (copies).

Next, the user manually sets the BW pages output by the BW digitalcopying machine 106 to the inserter 222 or the manual sheet feeder 227of the color copying machine 105 as it is (processing 5 d). The imagedata of the color pages are transmitted to the color copying machine 105through the communication path such as the parallel cable 108 or thelike. At this time, the information concerning the portions to which theBW pages are to be inserted (page information representing the page towhich the BW page is to be inserted) is correlated with the image dataand transmitted together with such the image data (processing 5 c).

When the color copying machine 105 does not have the data spoolingfunction, the print server 104 generates an output trigger at optimumtiming and transmits the data of the color pages. For example, in thiscase, according as the user manually sets the output result of the BWpages to the inserter 222 (or the manual sheet feeder 227) of the colorcopying machine 105, a detection result of the set sheets is notified tothe print server 104. The print server 104 which received the detectionresult (or a user's instruction input from the operation unit of thecolor copying machine 105, the host computer 101 or the like) transmitsthe data of the color pages to the color copying machine 105. In thiscase, since the three sets of prints (copies) are output, the printserver 104 transmits the data three times.

Conversely, when the color copying machine 105 has the data spoolingfunction, the print server 104 can transmit the data of the color pagesto the color copying machine 105 before the user manually sets theoutput result of the BW pages to the color copying machine 105(processing 5 c). Thus, it is possible by the spooling function tocontinue the processing without interrupting the output operation whichis being performed by the color copying machine 105. In this case, aspreviously described, since the three sets of prints (copies) areoutput, the print server 104 transmits together with the image data thedata to the color copying machine 105 to instruct it to sort the threesets of output prints (copies).

In the color copying machine 105, the data stored in the storage deviceis output in response to the output trigger generated from the operationpanel. Thus, on the basis of the information which was received from theprint server 104 and concerns the pages to which the BW pages are to beinserted, the color pages are output as the BW pages set in the inserter222 or the manual sheet feeder 227 are appropriately inserted, wherebythree sets of five-page output results each mixedly including the colorand BW pages can be obtained (processing 5 e).

Next, an output processing procedure of the image print system accordingto the present embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. It should be noted that FIGS. 7 to 12 are flowcharts showing respective individual output processing proceduresdescribed in a flow chart shown in FIG. 6. Since programs to performvarious processing including the above processing have been stored in anot-shown memory of the print server 104, these programs are read andexecuted by a not-shown CPU of the print server 104.

FIG. 6 is the flow chart showing the output processing procedure in theimage print system of FIG. 1. In FIG. 6, when the print server 104receives data (including the image data, the above instruction data, andthe like) from the host computer 101, the print server 104 once storesthe received data in its memory and performs base determinationprocessing shown in FIG. 7. Thus, from among the connected color copyingmachine 105 and BW digital copying machine 106, the print server 104determines the copying machine acting as the output base (step S601).

Next, it is judged whether or not the determined base is the BW base(i.e., the BW digital copying machine 106) (step S602). When judged thatthe determined base is the BW base (the BW digital copying machine 106),later-described color page output processing shown in FIG. 8 isperformed, whereby the color pages are output (step S603). Next, inlater-described message display processing shown in FIG. 10, a messageis displayed to cause the user to set the color pages output by the BWdigital copying machine 106 (step S604). Then later-described insertoutput processing shown in FIG. 12 is performed (step S605), and theprocessing ends, whereby the output result mixedly including the BW andcolor pages can be obtained. Namely, sheets on which BW images areformed and sheets on which color images are formed are mixed in due pageorder to constitute a sheaf of sheets, and this sheaf of sheets isstacked on a sheet discharge unit of the BW digital copying machine 106.

Conversely, when judged in the step S602 that the determined base is notthe BW base (the BW digital copying machine 106), it is further judgedwhether or not the determined base is the color base (the color copyingmachine 105) (step S606). When judged that the determined base is thecolor base, later-described BW page output processing shown in FIG. 9 isperformed, whereby the BW pages are output (step S607). Next, inlater-described message display processing shown in FIG. 11, a messageis displayed to cause the user to set the BW pages output by the colorcopying machine 105 (step S608). Then the later-described insert outputprocessing shown in FIG. 12 is performed (step S609), and the processingends, whereby the output result mixedly including the BW and color pagescan be obtained. Namely, sheets on which BW images are formed and sheetson which color images are formed are mixed in due page order toconstitute a sheaf of sheets, and this sheaf of sheets is stacked on asheet discharge unit of the color copying machine 105.

Conversely, when judged in the step S606 that the determined base is noteven the color base (the color copying machine 105), i.e., when it isdetermined in the step S601 that there is no base, the image data of thecolor pages is transmitted to the color copying machine 105 and output,while the image data of the BW pages is transmitted to the BW digitalcopying machine 106 and output, and the processing ends (step S610).

Next, the detailed processing in the step S601 of FIG. 6 will beexplained with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing thebase determination processing in the step S601 of FIG. 6.

First, the print server 104 judges whether or not the BW digital copyingmachine 106 is equipped with the inserter 222, on the basis ofmanagement information acquired from the image formation apparatus 106through the communication path or previously stored in the memorycontained within the server 104 itself (step S701). When judged that theBW digital copying machine 106 is equipped with the inserter 222, the BWdigital copying machine 106 is determined as the output base (stepS702), and the processing ends.

Conversely, when judged in the step S701 that the BW digital copyingmachine 106 is not equipped with the inserter 222, the print server 104further judges whether or not the color copying machine 105 is equippedwith the inserter 222 on the basis of the management informationacquired from the image formation apparatus 105 through thecommunication path or previously stored in the memory contained withinthe server 104 itself (step S703). When judged that the color copyingmachine 105 is equipped with the inserter 222, the color copying machine105 is determined as the output base (step S704), and the processingends.

Conversely, when judged in the step S703 that the color copying machine105 is not equipped with the inserter 222, the print server 104 readsbase default setting which has been previously set by the user from thememory of the print server 104 itself (step S705). When none of thecolor copying machine 105 and the BW digital copying machine 106 isequipped with the inserter, this base default setting enables either oneof these two copying machines to output the data. In any case, it isjudged whether or not the read base default setting is based on the BWdigital copying machine 106 (step S706). When judged that the setting isbased on the BW digital copying machine 106, the BW digital copyingmachine 106 is determined as the output base (step S707), and theprocessing ends.

Conversely, when judged in the step S706 that the base default settingis not based on the BW digital copying machine 106, it is further judgedwhether or not the read base default setting is based on the colorcopying machine 105 (step S708). When judged that the setting is basedon the color copying machine 105, the color copying machine 105 isdetermined as the output base (step S709), and the processing ends.Conversely, when judged in the step S708 that the base default settingis not based on even the color copying machine 105, it is determinedthat there is no base (step S710), and the processing ends.

Next, the detailed processing procedure in the step S603 of FIG. 6 willbe explained with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a flow chart showingthe color page output processing in the step S603 of FIG. 6.

The print server 104 reads the data for each page as page data (stepS801). Next, it is judged whether or not the read page data is colordata (representing a color page) (step S802). When judged that the pagedata is the color data, this page data is transmitted to the colorcopying machine 105, and also inserter (data) registration to feed thecolor pages from the inserter 222 or the manual sheet feeder 227 andoutput the fed color pages in the later-described message displayprocessing of FIG. 10 is instructed (step S803). When the color copyingmachine 105 has the spooling function, the transmitted color page datais once stored in the storage device of the color copying machine 105.

Next, when the color page data is output by the color copying machine105 (step S804), then it is judged whether or not the read page datarepresents the final page (step S807). When judged that the read pagedata does not represent the final page, the flow returns to the stepS801. Conversely, when judged in the step S807 that the read page datarepresents the final page, the processing ends.

When judged in the step S802 that the read page data is not the colordata, then it is judged whether or not the BW digital copying machine106 connected to the print server 104 is equipped with the storagedevice such as a hard disk, a memory or the like capable of spooling thedata, on the basis of the management information directly acquired fromthe image formation apparatus (i.e., the BW digital copying machine) 106through the communication path or previously stored in the inner memory(step S805).

When judged in the step S805 that the BW digital copying machine 106 isequipped with the storage device capable of spooling the data, the pagedata is transmitted to the BW digital copying machine 106 and stored inthe storage device thereof (step S806). Then, after the processing inthe step S807 is performed, the processing ends.

Conversely, when judged in the step S805 that the BW digital copyingmachine 106 is not equipped with the storage device capable of spoolingthe data, the BW page data is stored in the print server 104 as it is.Then, after the processing in the step S807 is performed, the processingends.

Next, the detailed processing procedure in the step S607 of FIG. 6 willbe explained with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a flow chart showingthe BW page output processing in the step S607 of FIG. 6.

The print server 104 reads the data for each page as page data (stepS901). Next, it is judged whether or not the read page data is BW data(representing a BW page) (step S902). When judged that the page data isthe BW data, this page data is transmitted to the BW digital copyingmachine 106, and also inserter (data) registration to feed the BW pagesfrom the inserter 222 or the manual sheet feeder 227 in thelater-described message display processing of FIG. 11 is instructed(step S903). When the BW digital copying machine 106 has the spoolingfunction, the transmitted BW page data is once stored in the storagedevice of the BW digital copying machine 106.

Next, when the BW page data is output by the BW digital copying machine106 (step S904), then it is judged whether or not the read page datarepresents the final page (step S907). When judged that the read pagedata does not represent the final page, the flow returns to the stepS901. Conversely, when judged in the step S907 that the read page datarepresents the final page, the processing ends.

When judged in the step S902 that the read page data is not the BW data,then it is judged whether or not the color copying machine 105 connectedto the print server 104 is equipped with the storage device such as ahard disk, a memory or the like capable of spooling the data, on thebasis of the management information directly acquired from the imageformation apparatus (i.e., the color copying machine) 105 through thecommunication path or previously stored in the inner memory (step S905).

When judged in the step S905 that the color copying machine 105 isequipped with the storage device capable of spooling the data, the pagedata is transmitted to the color copying machine 105 and stored in thestorage device thereof (step S906). Then, after the processing in thestep S907 is performed, the processing ends. Conversely, when judged inthe step S905 that the color copying machine 105 is not equipped withthe storage device capable of spooling the data, the color page data isstored in the print server 104 as it is. Then, after the processing inthe step S907 is performed, the processing ends.

Next, the detailed processing procedure in the step S604 of FIG. 6 willbe explained with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a flow chart showingthe message display processing in the step S604 of FIG. 6.

The print server 104 judges whether or not the BW digital copyingmachine 106 is equipped with the storage device capable of spooling thedata, on the basis of the management information directly acquired fromthe image formation apparatus (i.e., the BW digital copying machine) 106through the communication path or previously stored in the inner memory(step S1001). When judged that the BW digital copying machine 106 isequipped with the storage device capable of spooling the data, a messagethat the color page output ended is displayed on the LCD touch panel 316of the BW digital copying machine 106 and the display screen of the hostcomputer 101 being the image data transmission source, to notify theuser of such a fact (step S1002).

Next, the color page output result (i.e., a group of the sheets on whichthe color images were formed) is manually set to the inserter 222 or themanual sheet feeder 227 of the BW digital copying machine 106 by theuser (step S1003). Then a later-described content shown in FIG. 15 isdisplayed on the screen of the LCD touch panel 316 of the BW digitalcopying machine 106 (step S1004), whereby a screen state from which theoutput trigger can be generated is set, and the processing ends.

Conversely, when judged in the step S1001 that the BW digital copyingmachine 106 is not equipped with the storage device capable of spoolingthe data, a later-described content shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on thedisplay screen of the host computer 101 (step S1005). Next, the colorpage output result is manually set to the inserter 222 or the manualsheet feeder 227 of the BW digital copying machine 106 by the user (stepS1006). Then a screen state on the host computer 101 from which theoutput trigger can be generated is set, and the processing ends (stepS1007).

Next, the detailed processing procedure in the step S608 of FIG. 6 willbe explained with reference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showingthe message display processing in the step S608 of FIG. 6.

The print server 104 judges whether or not the color copying machine 105is equipped with the storage device capable of spooling the data, on thebasis of the management information directly acquired from the imageformation apparatus (i.e., the color copying machine) 105 through thecommunication path or previously stored in the inner memory (stepS1101). When judged that the color copying machine 105 is equipped withthe storage device capable of spooling the data, a message that thecolor page output ended in the BW digital copying machine 106 isdisplayed on the LCD touch panel 316 of the color copying machine 105and the display screen of the host computer 101, to notify the user ofsuch a fact (step S1102).

Next, the BW page output result is manually set to the inserter 222 orthe manual sheet feeder 227 of the color copying machine 105 by the user(step S1103). Then the later-described content shown in FIG. 15 isdisplayed on the screen of the LCD touch panel 316 of the color copyingmachine 105 (step S1104), whereby a screen state from which the outputtrigger can be generated is set, and the processing ends.

Conversely, when judged in the step S1101 that the color copying machine105 is not equipped with the storage device capable of spooling thedata, the later-described content shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on thedisplay screen of the host computer 101 (step S1105). Next, the colorpage output result is manually set to the inserter 222 or the manualsheet feeder 227 of the color copying machine 105 by the user (stepS1106). Then the screen state on the host computer 101 from which theoutput trigger can be generated is set, and the processing ends (stepS1107).

Next, the detailed processing procedure in the steps S605 and S609 ofFIG. 6 will be explained with reference to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the insert output processing in the steps S605 and S609 ofFIG. 6.

The print server 104 reads the page data from the storage device whenthe data has been stored in the storage device of each of the connectedcolor copying machine 105 and BW digital copying machine 106 or readsthe page data received from the print server 104 when the copyingmachine is not equipped with the storage device (step S1201). Then it isjudged whether or not the read page data represents an insert page whichhas been subjected to the inserter registration in the step S803 of FIG.8 and the step S903 of FIG. 9 (step S1202).

When judged that the read page data represents the insert page, theoutput result (the sheets) set in the step S1003 of FIG. 10 and the stepS1103 of FIG. 11 are fed one by one from the inserter 222 or the manualsheet feeder 227 (step S1203). Next, it is judged whether or not thepage data read in the step S1201 represents a final page (step S1205).When judged that the read page data does not represent the final page,the flow returns to the step S1201. Conversely, when judged that theread page data represents the final page, the processing ends.

On the other hand, when judged in the step S1202 that the read page datadoes not represent the insert page, the read page data is output (stepS1204), the processing in the step S1205 is performed, and theprocessing ends.

Next, the message display screens in the step S1002 of FIG. 10 and thestep S1102 of FIG. 11 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 13, 14and 15.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the base screen of the mailbox screen inthe color copying machine 105, the BW digital copying machine 106 andthe host computer 101 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 13, a message line 1301displays a message which should direct the user. When one of box keys1302 is depressed, the screen is changed to a temporary screen(later-described FIG. 14) on which a job list stored in each box isdisplayed. The user can freely define a name of each box in a box namearea 1303.

In FIG. 13, a box “00” has been reserved as a temporary area. In case ofstoring the data transmitted from the print server 104, such the data isautomatically input to this box “00”. Memory use quantity display 1304displays the proportion of data in each box to the entire storagecapacity by a percentage. Page display 1305 displays the number of totalpages on the screen as a denominator and the current page number as anumerator. The page of the box list screen can be changed by using adownward scroll key 1306 and an upward scroll key 1307.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the temporary box screen of the mailboxscreen shown in FIG. 13. The temporary box screen of FIG. 14 is changedby depressing one of the box keys 1302 in FIG. 13, and a print jobwithin the box can be selected and output on the temporary box screen. Ajob list 1401 is composed of a reception time area 1402, a host namearea 1403, and a print job name area 1404. When the user touches thefield at somewhere in the areas 1402 to 1404 and thus selects the printjob, the selected display (a selected print job 1405) is highlighted asshown in FIG. 14. In this state, the output is started when a print key1408 is depressed.

When the selected print job is executed in an output condition that aninsert or a slipsheet is to be inserted, the screen is changed to thelater-described screen shown in FIG. 15 to wait for a user'sinstruction. When the job list in the box can not be contained withinone screen, the job list display can be scrolled by using a downwardscroll key 1406 and an upward scroll key 1407. When a close key 1409 isdepressed, the screen is changed to the base screen of the mailboxscreen shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the print trigger screen of FIG. 14. Whenthe print job is selected and the print key 1408 is depressed in FIG.14, if the selected print job is in the output condition that the insertis to be inserted by using the inserter 222 or the like, the screen ischanged to a print trigger window 1501 of FIG. 15.

Next, the output result previously output by the color copying machine105 or the BW digital copying machine 106 is set to the inserter 222 orthe like as it is. Then, when a print key 1502 is depressed, the outputis started. When a cancel key 1503 is depressed, the print triggerwindow 1501 is closed, and the screen is returned to the temporary boxscreen of FIG. 14.

It should be noted that, when the screens shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 aredisplayed on the LCD touch panel of the color copying machine 105 or theBW digital copying machine 106, the above keys are depressed on thescreen. On the other hand, when these screens are displayed on the hostcomputer 101, the instructions corresponding to the above keys are inputby using a mouse, a keyboard and the like (not shown).

Next, the message display screens in the step S1005 of FIG. 10 and thestep S1105 of FIG. 11 will be explained with reference to FIG. 16. FIG.16 is a diagram showing an operation indication message screen on thehost computer 101 of FIG. 1.

When the output result to be set to the color copying machine 105 or theBW digital copying machine 106 being the determined base is output, ifthe copying machine is not equipped with the storage device capable ofspooling the data, an operation indication message window 1601 of FIG.16 is displayed on the screen of the host computer 101.

A message 1602 urges the user to generate an output trigger. In themessage 1602, a name of the copying machine being not the base on thenetwork is displayed as “PRINTER A”, and a name of the copying machinebeing the base on the network is displayed as “PRINTER B”. After theuser sets either one of the color and BW output results to the inserter222 of the base copying machine, when a print key 1603 is clicked by themouse or the like, the output trigger can be generated to the basecopying machine. When the user wishes to stop the output, a cancel key1604 is depressed,

According to the embodiment of the present invention, when the imagedata mixedly including the BW and color images is received from the hostcomputer 101, the print server 104 determines one of the connected colorcopying machine 105 and BW digital copying machine 106 equipped with theinserter as the base copying machine (step S601 of FIG. 6). Next, it isjudged whether the received data is based on BW or color (step S802 ofFIG. 8 and step S902 of FIG. 9). When the determined base is the BWbase, the color page data is first transmitted and thus the color pageis output (step S804 of FIG. 8), the output color page is set to the BWdigital copying machine 106, and the insert output is performed (stepS1204 of FIG. 12). Conversely, when the determined base is the colorbase, the BW page data is first transmitted and thus the BW page isoutput (step S904 of FIG. 9), the output BW page is set to the colorcopying machine 105, and the insert output is performed (step S1204 ofFIG. 12). Thus, it is possible to effectively use the installations ofthe image output apparatus, and thus shorten the time necessary tooutput the image data mixedly including the BW and color images to theimage output apparatus.

In the present embodiment, the example of the data mixedly representingthe color and BW images was explained as an example of data mixedlyincluding plural different kinds of data. However, for example, thepresent invention is applicable to a case where data mixedlyrepresenting a photograph image and a character image is input to theprint server 104, the photograph image is output by the color imageformation apparatus 105, and the character image is output by the BWimage formation apparatus 106.

Further, of course, the present invention is applicable to a case wherethe print server 104 distributes same-kind data to the copying machines105 and 106. For example, it is thought that, when the BW image datarepresents the images of total 20 pages, the print server 104 causes thecolor copying machine 105 to output the first to tenth pages and the BWdigital copying machine 106 to output the eleventh to twentieth pages.

Namely, even when a part of pages represented by the series of imagedata are distributed to one image formation apparatus (e.g., the colorcopying machine 105) and the remaining pages are distributed to theother image formation apparatus (e.g., the BW digital copying machine106), the same processing as that shown in FIGS. 6 to 12 is performed.Thus, the present invention is applicable to such the case, bydistributing the data to each image formation apparatus at optimumtiming on the basis of the function and the installation state of eachimage formation apparatus.

It is needless to say that the object of the present invention can beachieved in a case where a storage medium storing program codes ofsoftware for realizing the function of the various processing (e.g., theprocessing shown in FIGS. 6 to 12) in the above present embodiment issupplied to a system or an apparatus and then a computer (or CPU or MPU)in the system or the apparatus reads and executes the program codesstored in the memory medium.

In this case, the program codes themselves read from the storage mediumrealize the function of the embodiment, and the storage medium storingsuch the program codes constitutes the present invention.

The storage medium storing the program codes can be, e.g., a floppydisk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magnetooptical disk, a CD-ROM, aCD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, or the like.

It is needless to say that the present invention also includes not onlythe case where the function of the embodiment is realized by executingthe program codes read by the computer, but also a case where an OS(operating system) or the like functioning on the computer executes allor part of the processing according to instructions of the programcodes, thereby realizing the function of the embodiment.

Further, it is needless to say that the present invention furtherincludes a case where the program codes read from the storage medium areonce stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board insertedin the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer,and a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or thefunction expansion unit executes all or part of the processing accordingto instructions of such program codes, thereby realizing the function ofthe embodiment.

As detailedly explained above, in the present embodiment, between the BWimage formation apparatus and the color image formation apparatus towhich the data is distributed, one image formation apparatus which isequipped with the inserter having the sheet path without fixing unit isdetermined as the base image formation apparatus. In this structure, theinserter has the insert function which can feed the sheet on which theimage was previously formed without being formed by the image formationapparatus itself. Then, the image data mixedly representing BW and colorimages and transmitted from the image generation source such as the hostcomputer or the like is read for each page, and it is judged whether theread page is the color page or the BW page. When the determined base isthe BW image formation apparatus, the judged color page is firsttransmitted to the color image formation apparatus and printed.Conversely, when the determined base is the color image formationapparatus, the judged BW page is first transmitted to the BW imageformation apparatus and printed. Then, it is instructed that the baseimage formation apparatus inserts therein one of the BW page and thecolor page first print-processed and set to the inserter as it outputsthe other thereof. Thus, it is possible to effectively use thepredetermined installations of the image formation apparatuses, and thusshorten the time occupied to output the image data mixedly including theBW and color images by the image formation apparatus.

Further, in a series of work processing in which an operator takes partas in the present embodiment, notifications to the operator areaggressively performed at optimum timing to improve usability ormaneuverability for the operator. Namely, it is determined according tothe state on the image formation apparatus side whether thepredetermined message and the setting screen are displayed on either oneof the display unit of the host computer and the display unit of theimage formation apparatus or both the display units. Further, it iscontrolled to make the content to be displayed differ appropriately inaccordance with the state on the image formation apparatus side. Thus,it is possible to increase the usability or maneuverability for theoperator, and thus to prevent an erroneous operation by the operator.

As above, according to the present embodiment, in the case where theseries of image data composed of the plural pages is distributed to theplural image formation apparatuses for each page and then the imageformation is performed by each image formation apparatus, it is possibleto distribute the data in consideration of the state of the imageformation apparatus side, quickly output the data desired by the user,and smoothly operate the entire system.

1-22. (canceled)
 23. A method of operating a system which includes atleast one of a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices includinga first printing device comprising a memory unit for enabling storage ofa plurality of printable data and a second printing device, said methodcomprising the steps of: causing the first printing device to execute afirst printing operation and causing the second printing device toexecute a second printing operation; and causing, in the case that thefirst printing device has an inserter function for enabling an insertionprocess of a sheet from a predetermined sheet supply for a sheet from asheet supply source in the first printing operation, the first printingdevice to operate so that the first printing operation is started afterthe second printing operation was started when the inserter function inthe first printing operation is used.
 24. An operating method accordingto claim 23, wherein, said method causes, in the case where the inserterfunction is used in the first printing operation so as to insert asecond type of sheet supplied from the predetermined sheet supply sourcefor a first type of sheet supplied from the sheet supply source, thefirst printing device to operate so that the first printing operation isstarted after the second printing operation was started.
 25. Anoperating method according to claim 24, wherein at least a type of datato be printed on the first type of sheet is different from a type ofdata to be printed on the second type of sheet.
 26. An operating methodaccording to claim 23, wherein, said method causes, in the case wherethe inserter function is used in the first printing operation so as toinsert the sheet supplied from the predetermined sheet supply source andprint-processed in the second printing operation for the sheet suppliedfrom the sheet supply source and print-processed in the first printingoperation, the first printing device to operate so that the firstprinting operation is started after the second printing operation wasstarted.
 27. An operating method according to claim 26, wherein saidmethod includes: causing a first image forming apparatus and a secondimage forming apparatus to perform a distributed printing operationwhich distributes the printing operation of the data output from onedata supply source to the first printing operation by the first printingdevice and the second printing operation by the second printing device;and causing, in the case where the inserter function is used in thefirst printing operation so as to insert the sheet supplied from thepredetermined sheet supply source and print-processed in the secondprinting operation as the distributed printing operation for the sheetprint-processed in the first printing operation as the distributedprinting operation, the first printing device to operate so that thefirst printing operation is started after the second printing operationwas started.
 28. An operating method according to claim 27, wherein thedistributed printing operation includes a printing operation to causethe first printing device to perform the printing operation of a part ofa series of data consisting of plural pages output from one data supplysource and to cause the second printing device to perform the printingoperation of other part of the series of data.
 29. An operating methodaccording to claim 27, wherein the distributed printing operationincludes a printing operation to cause the first printing device toperform the printing operation of partial page of a series of dataconsisting of plural pages output from one data supply source and tocause the second printing device to perform the printing operation ofother page of the series of data.
 30. An operating method according toclaim 27, wherein the distributed printing operation includes a printingoperation to cause the first printing device to perform the printingoperation of the first type of data included in a series of data mixedlycomposed of the first type of data and the second type of data outputfrom one data supply source and to cause the second printing device toperform the printing operation of the second type of data included inthe series of data.
 31. An operating method according to claim 30,wherein the first type of data is black and white data and the secondtype of data is color data.
 32. An operating method according to claim30, wherein the first type of data is photograph data and the secondtype of data is character data.
 33. An operating method according toclaim 27, wherein the data supply source includes a computer, and thefirst and second printing devices can respectively perform the printingoperations of the data output by the computer.
 34. An operating methodaccording to claim 33, wherein the first and second printing devices canreceive the data output by a first computer through a second computer.35. An operating method according to claim 33, wherein the firstprinting device has a scanner unit, and the data from the scanner unitcan be printed by the first printing device through the memory unit. 36.An operating method according to claim 27, further comprising a step ofenabling the data supply source to confirm function information of thefirst printing device.
 37. An operating method according to claim 36,further comprising a step of enabling the data supply source to confirmfunction information of the second printing device.
 38. An operatingmethod according to claim 27, further comprising a step of causing auser interface unit of the data supply source to notify the user ofinformation for enabling the user to discriminate that the secondprinting operation in the second printing device was finished.
 39. Anoperating method according to claim 23, further comprising a step ofcausing an operation unit of at least one of the first and secondprinting devices to notify the user of information for enabling the userto discriminate that the second printing operation in the secondprinting device was finished.
 40. An operating method according to claim27, further comprising a step of causing a user interface unit of thedata supply source to notify the user of message information forenabling the user to confirm an action which should be performed by theuser when the first printing operation in the first printing device isperformed.
 41. An operating method according to claim 23, furthercomprising a step of causing an operation unit of at least one of thefirst and second printing devices to notify the user of messageinformation for enabling the user to confirm an action which should beperformed by the user when the first printing operation in the firstprinting device is performed.
 42. An operating method according to claim23, wherein an occupation time of the first printing device for thefirst printing operation is shortened by operating the first printingdevice so that the first printing operation is started after the secondprinting operation was started.
 43. A storage medium storing a programexecuting a method of operating a system which includes at least one ofa plurality of devices, the plurality of devices including a firstprinting device comprising a memory unit for enabling storage of aplurality of printable data and a second printing device, said methodcomprising the steps of: causing the first printing device to execute afirst printing operation and causing the second printing device toexecute a second printing operation; and causing, in the case where thefirst printing device has an inserter function for enabling an insertprocess of a sheet from a predetermined sheet supply source for a sheetfrom a sheet supply source in the first printing operation, the firstprinting device to operate so that the first printing operation isstarted after the second printing operation was started when theinserter function in the first printing operation is used.
 44. Anoperating system which includes at least one of a plurality of devices,the plurality of devices including a first printing device comprising amemory unit for enabling storage of a plurality of printable data and asecond printing device, said system further comprising: an operationunit adapted to cause the first printing device to execute a firstprinting operation and to cause the second printing device to execute asecond printing operation; and a control unit adapted to cause, in thecase where the first printing device has an inserter function forenabling an insert process of a sheet from a predetermined sheet supplysource for a sheet from a sheet supply source in the first printingoperation, the first printing device to operate so that the firstprinting operation is started after the second printing operation wasstarted when the inserter function in the first printing operation isused.
 45. A method of operating a system which includes at least one ofa plurality of devices, the plurality of devices including a firstprinting device comprising a memory unit capable of storing a pluralityof printable data and a second printing device, said method comprisingthe steps of: causing the first printing device to execute a firstprinting operation based on first data output from a same data source asa data source which can output second data of an object to be printed ina second printing operation by the second printing device; and causing,in the case where the first printing device has an inserter function forenabling an insert process of sheet from a predetermined sheet supplysource for a sheet from a sheet supply source in the first printingoperation, the first printing device to operate so that the first datais stored in the memory unit of the first printing device before thesecond printing operation by the second printing device is finished andthe first printing operation based on the first data of the memory unitcan be started after the second printing operation is finished when theinserter function in the first printing operation is used.
 46. Anoperating method according to claim 45, wherein said method causes, inthe case where the inserter function is used in the first printingoperation so as to insert a second type of sheet supplied from the sheetsupply source for a first type of sheet supplied from the sheet supplysource, the first printing device to operate so that the first data isstored in the memory unit of the first printing device before the secondprinting operation by the second printing device is finished and thefirst printing operation based on the first data of the memory unit canbe started after the second printing operation by the second printingdevice is finished.
 47. An operating method according to claim 46,wherein at least a type of data to be printed on the first type of sheetis different from a type of data to be printed on the second type ofsheet.
 48. An operating method according to claim 45, wherein saidmethod causes, in the case where the inserter function is used in thefirst printing operation so as to insert the sheet supplied from thepredetermined sheet supply source and print-processed in the secondprinting operation for the sheet supplied from the sheet supply sourceand print-processed in the first printing operation, the first printingdevice to operate so that the first data is stored in the memory unit ofthe first printing device before the second printing operation by thesecond printing device is finished and the first printing operationbased on the first data of the memory unit can be started after thesecond printing operation by the second printing device is finished. 49.An operating method according to claim 45, wherein said method causesthe first printing device to perform the first printing operation andcauses the second printing device to perform the second printingoperation.
 50. An operating method according to claim 49, wherein saidmethod causes a first image forming apparatus and a second image formingapparatus to perform a distributed printing operation which distributesthe printing operation of the data output from one data supply source tothe first printing operation by the first printing device and the secondprinting operation by the second printing device, and wherein saidmethod causes, in the case where the inserter function is used in thefirst printing operation so as to insert the sheet supplied from thepredetermined sheet supply source and print-processed in the secondprinting operation as the distributed printing operation for the sheetprint-processed in the first printing operation as the distributedprinting operation, the first printing device to operate so that thefirst data is stored in the memory unit of the first printing devicebefore the second printing operation by the second printing device isfinished and the first printing operation based on the first data in thememory unit can be started after the second printing operation by thesecond printing device was started.
 51. An operating method according toclaim 50, wherein the distributed printing operation includes a printingoperation to cause the first printing device to perform the printingoperation of a part of a series of data consisting of plural pagesoutput from one data supply source and to cause the second printingdevice to perform the printing operation of other part of the series ofdata.
 52. An operating method according to claim 50, wherein thedistributed printing operation includes a printing operation to causethe first printing device to perform the printing operation of partialpage of a series of data consisting of plural pages output from one datasupply source and to cause the second printing device to perform theprinting operation of other page of the series of data.
 53. An operatingmethod according to claim 50, wherein the distributed printing operationincludes a printing operation to cause the first printing device toperform the printing operation of the first type of data included in aseries of data mixedly composed of the first type of data and the secondtype of data output from one data supply source and to cause the secondprinting device to perform the printing operation of the second type ofdata included in the series of data.
 54. An operating method accordingto claim 53, wherein the first type of data is black and white data andthe second type of data is color data.
 55. An operating method accordingto claim 53, wherein the first type of data is photograph data and thesecond type of data is character data.
 56. An operating method accordingto claim 45, wherein the data supply source includes a computer, and thefirst and second printing devices can respectively perform the printingoperations on the data output by the computer.
 57. An operating methodaccording to claim 56, wherein the first and second printing devices canreceive the data output by a first computer through a second computer.58. An operating method according to claim 45, wherein the firstprinting device has a scanner unit, and the data from the scanner unitcan be printed by the first printing device through the memory unit. 59.An operating method according to claim 45, further comprising a step ofenabling the data supply source to confirm function information of thefirst printing device.
 60. An operating method according to claim 59,further comprising a step of enabling the data supply source to confirmfunction information of the second printing device.
 61. An operatingmethod according to claim 45, further comprising a step of causing auser interface unit of the data supply source to notify the user ofinformation for enabling the user to discriminate that the secondprinting operation in the second printing device was finished.
 62. Anoperating method according to claim 45, further comprising a step ofcausing an operation unit of at least one of the first and secondprinting devices to notify the user of information for enabling the userto discriminate that the second printing operation in the secondprinting device was finished.
 63. An operating method according to claim45, further comprising a step of causing a user interface unit of thedata supply source to notify the user of message information forenabling the user to confirm an action which should be performed by theuser when the first printing operation in the first printing device isperformed.
 64. An operating method according to claim 45, furthercomprising a step of causing an operation unit of at least one of thefirst and second printing devices to notify the user of messageinformation for enabling the user to confirm an action which should beperformed by the user when the first printing operation in the firstprinting device is performed.
 65. An operating method according to claim45, wherein an occupation time of the first printing device for thefirst printing operation is shortened by operating the first printingdevice so that the first printing operation can be started after thesecond printing operation was started.
 66. An operating method accordingto claim 45, wherein said method includes permitting a start of thefirst printing operation based on the first data of the memory unit,when a first instruction is input by a user through a user interfaceunit after the second printing operation is finished, and wherein saidmethod includes inhibiting the start of the first printing operationbased on the first data of the memory unit, when the first instructionis not input through the user interface unit after the second printingoperation is finished.
 67. An operating method according to claim 66,wherein said method includes canceling the first printing operationbased on the first data of the memory unit, when a second instruction isinput by the user through the user interface unit after the secondprinting operation is finished.
 68. An operating method according toclaim 66, wherein the user interface unit includes an operation unit ofat least either one of the first printing device and the second printingdevice.
 69. An operating method according to claim 66, wherein the userinterface unit includes an operation unit of a computer acting as thedata source.
 70. An operating method according to claim 45, wherein saidmethod includes enabling a display unit to perform a first display forenabling a user to input a first instruction after the second printingoperation is finished, wherein said method includes permitting a startof the first printing operation based on the first data of the memoryunit, when the first instruction is input by the user through the firstdisplay after the second printing operation is finished, and whereinsaid method includes inhibiting the start of the first printingoperation based on the first data of the memory unit, when the firstinstruction is not input through the first display after the secondprinting operation is finished.
 71. An operating method according toclaim 70, wherein said method includes enabling the display unit toperform a second display for enabling the user to input a secondinstruction after the second printing operation is finished, whereinsaid method includes canceling the first printing operation based on thefirst data of the memory unit, when the second instruction is input bythe user through the second display after the second printing operationis finished.
 72. An operating method according to claim 45, wherein saidmethod includes enabling an operation unit to perform a display forenabling a user to select any one of plural data stored in the memoryunit, and wherein when the first data being the print target in thefirst printing operation is selected through the display, said methodincludes enabling to start the first printing operation based on theselected first data after the second printing operation is finished. 73.An operating method according to claim 72, wherein the operation unitincludes at least one of an operation unit of a computer acting as thedata source, an operation unit of the first printing device, and anoperation unit of the second printing device.
 74. An operating methodaccording to claim 72, wherein said method includes enabling to selectthrough the display another data other than the first data from amongthe plural data stored in the memory unit, and wherein when the anotherdata is selected through the display, said method includes causing thefirst printing device to be able to perform another printing operationbased on the another data selected in the memory unit, irrespective ofthe first printing operation.
 75. An operating method according to claim74, wherein when the first data is selected through the display, saidmethod includes enabling the operation unit to perform another displayfor enabling the user to input an instruction to start the firstprinting operation, and, on condition that the instruction is inputthrough the another display, said method enables to start the firstprinting operation, and wherein when the another data is selectedthrough the display, said method includes causing the first printingdevice to be able to perform the another printing operation withoutcausing the operation unit to perform the another display.
 76. Anoperating method according to claim 45, wherein the predetermined sheetsupply source includes at least either one of an inserter tray providedin a sheet processing device capable of being connected to the firstprinting device, and a manual feed tray provided in the first printingdevice itself.
 77. An operating method according to claim 45, whereinsaid method includes causing the data source to output the first dataand the second data substantially at the same time, and wherein saidmethod includes performing the first printing operation and the secondprinting operation at mutually different timing.
 78. A storage mediumfor storing a program to execute a method of operating a system whichincludes at least one of a plurality of devices, the plurality ofdevices including a first printing device comprising a memory unitcapable of storing a plurality of printable data and a second printingdevice, said method comprising the steps of: causing the first printingdevice to execute a first printing operation based on first data outputfrom a same data source as a data source which can output second data ofan object to be printed in a second printing operation by the secondprinting device; and causing, in the case where the first printingdevice has an inserter function for enabling an insert process of sheetfrom a predetermined sheet supply source for a sheet from a sheet supplysource in the first printing operation, the first printing device tooperate so that the first data is stored in the memory unit of the firstprinting device before the second printing operation by the secondprinting device is finished and the first printing operation, based onthe first data of the memory unit, can be started after the secondprinting operation by the second printing device is finished when theinserter function in the first printing operation is used.
 79. A systemwhich includes at least one of a plurality of devices, the plurality ofdevices including a first printing device comprising a memory unitcapable of storing a plurality of printable data and a second printingdevice, said system comprising: a print unit adapted to cause the firstprinting device to execute a first printing operation based on firstdata output from a same data source as a data source which can outputsecond data of an object to be printed in a second printing operation bythe second printing device; and a control unit adapted to cause, in thecase where the first printing device has an inserter function forenabling an insert process of sheet from a predetermined sheet supplysource for a sheet from a sheet supply source in the first printingoperation, the first printing device to operate so that the first datais stored in the memory unit of the first printing device before thesecond printing operation by the second printing device is finished andthe first printing operation, based on the first data of the memoryunit, can be started after the second printing operation by the secondprinting device is finished when the inserter function in the firstprinting operation is used.
 80. An operating method of a system whichincludes at least one of a plurality of devices, the plurality ofdevices including a first printing device comprising a first memory unitcapable of storing a plurality of printable data and a second printingdevice comprising a second memory unit capable of storing a plurality ofprintable data, said method comprising the steps of: causing the firstprinting device to execute a first printing operation based on firstdata output from a data source, and causing the second printing deviceto execute a second printing operation based on second data output froma same data source as the data source; causing, in the case where thefirst printing device has an inserter function for enabling an insertprocess of sheet from a predetermined sheet supply source for a sheetfrom a sheet supply source in the first printing operation, the firstprinting device to operate so that the first data is stored in the firstmemory unit before the second printing operation is finished and thefirst printing operation, based on the first data of the first memoryunit, can be started after the second printing operation is finishedwhen an inserter function in the first printing operation is used; andcausing, in a case where the second printing device has an inserterfunction for enabling an insert process of sheet from a predeterminedsheet supply source for a sheet from a sheet supply source in the secondprinting operation, the second printing device to operate so that thesecond data is stored in the second memory unit before the firstprinting operation is finished and the second printing operation, basedon the second data of the second memory unit, can be started after thefirst printing operation is finished when the inserter function in thesecond printing operation is used.
 81. An operating method according toclaim 80, wherein said method includes enabling to perform an outputoperation of the first data from the data source to the first printingdevice and an output operation of the second data from the data sourceto the second printing device substantially at the same time, andwherein said method includes starting the first printing operation andthe second printing operation at different timing.
 82. An operatingmethod according to claim 80, wherein said method includes causing thefirst printing device and the second printing device to perform adistributed printing operation which causes the first printing device toprint the first data included in a series of data including the firstdata and the second data as the first printing operation and causes thesecond printing device to print the second data included in the seriesof data as the second printing operation.
 83. An operating methodaccording to claim 82, wherein the first data corresponds to the data ofpartial page included in the series of data consisting of plural pages,and the second data corresponds to the data of remaining page includedin the series of data.
 84. An operating method according to claim 82,wherein the first data corresponds to first type of data included in aseries of data mixedly consisting of the first type of data and secondtype of data, and the second data corresponds to the second type of dataincluded in the series of data.
 85. An operating method according toclaim 84, wherein the first type of data is black and white data and thesecond type of data is color data.
 86. An operating method according toclaim 84, wherein the first type of data is photograph data and thesecond type of data is character data.
 87. An operating method accordingto claim 80, wherein the data supply source includes a computer, and thefirst and second printing devices can respectively perform the printingoperations of the data output by the computer.
 88. An operating methodaccording to claim 80, wherein the first printing device has a scannerunit, and the data from the scanner unit can be printed by the firstprinting device through the memory unit.
 89. An operating methodaccording to claim 80, further comprising the steps of: enabling thedata supply source to confirm function information of the first printingdevice; and enabling the data supply source to confirm functioninformation of the second printing device.
 90. An operating methodaccording to claim 80, wherein an occupation time of the first printingdevice for the first printing operation is shortened by controllingstart timing of the first printing operation when the insert function isused in the first printing operation by the first printing device, andwherein an occupation time of the second printing device for the secondprinting operation is shortened by controlling start timing of thesecond printing operation when the insert function is used in the secondprinting operation by the second printing device.
 91. A storage mediumfor storing a program to execute a method of operating a system whichincludes at least one of a plurality of devices, the plurality ofdevices including a first printing device comprising a first memory unitcapable of storing a plurality of printable data and including a secondprinting device comprising a second memory unit capable of storing aplurality of printable data, said method comprising the steps of:causing the first printing device to execute a first printing operationbased on first data output from a data source, and causing the secondprinting device to execute a second printing operation based on seconddata output from a same data source as the data source; causing, in acase where the first printing device has an inserter function forenabling an insert process of sheet from a predetermined sheet supplysource for a sheet from a sheet supply source in the first printingoperation, the first printing device to operate so that the first datais stored in the first memory unit before the second printing operationis finished and the first printing operation based on the first data ofthe first memory unit can be started after the second printing operationis finished when the inserter function in the first printing operationis used; and causing, in the case where the second printing device hasan inserter function for enabling an insert process of sheet from apredetermined sheet supply source for a sheet from a sheet supply sourcein the second printing operation, the second printing device to operateso that the second data is stored in the second memory unit before thefirst printing operation is finished and the second printing operationbased on the second data of the second memory unit can be started afterthe first printing operation is finished when the inserter function inthe second printing operation is used.
 92. A system which includes atleast one of a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices includinga first printing device comprising a first memory unit capable ofstoring a plurality of printable data and a second printing devicecomprising a second memory unit capable of storing a plurality ofprintable data, said system comprising: a unit adapted to cause thefirst printing device to execute a first printing operation based onfirst data output from a data source, and cause the second printingdevice to execute a second printing operation based on second dataoutput from a same data source as the data source; a unit adapted tocause, in the case where the first printing device has an inserterfunction for enabling an insert process of sheet from a predeterminedsheet supply source for a sheet from a sheet supply source in the firstprinting operation, the first printing device to operate so that thefirst data is stored in the first memory unit before the second printingoperation is finished and the first printing operation based on thefirst data of the first memory unit can be started after the secondprinting operation is finished when the inserter function in the firstprinting operation is used; and a unit adapted to cause, in the casewhere the second printing device has an inserter function for enablingan insert process of sheet from a predetermined sheet supply source fora sheet from a sheet supply source in the second printing operation, thefirst printing device to operate so that the second data is stored inthe second memory unit before the first printing operation is finishedand the second printing operation based on the second data of the secondmemory unit can be started after the first printing operation isfinished when the inserter function in the second printing operation isused.